Princess Monterey Whale Watching Cruises

We arrived just in time for the last whale trip of that day on Juli 31st 2010. "The Dutch have arrived", the man at the ticket booth exclaimed :-). We were offered the choice to take this trip (bumpy ride) or postpone till later. However, later was not an option for us. So we went out with the boat (my wife , two sons, daughter and I). Indeed, the sea was rough, but the captain manouvered the boat skillfully through/over the high waves. About sixes miles from the coast we spotted our first whales. What a sight, we saw one, two and even more whales swimming out there, excellent. Ther captain manouvered the boat for best sightseeing. These whales were all humpbacks, impressive to see them swimming and breathing. The kids as well as ourselves enjoyed this trip very much. We were however not so lucky to see the largest whales, the blue ones. Maybe next time... Martin, Ageeth, Tamsin, Maupen Jons van Steenis

We saw a great number of whales (humpback and blue) and dolphins. Out 11 year old daughter was thrilled with the experience.

Coming from france and In California for a 1 month business trip , I took the opportunity to went Whales watching..All was perfect , from the online booking via Zerve server, passing by the easy to find intruction on the online ticket to reach Monterey's old wharf, by taking the ticket on the wharf, the boarding. This was so easy for a none US citizen... except may be undestanding the Captain's speaking too fast to catch all what he said . but the crew guy explaining the animals was really great and he real got a real knowledge of the whale and Monterey bay area. we went to the spot and seen a lots of humpback and blue whales. I do recommand Princess Monterey Whales watching . if I come back, I will choose again Princess Monterey WW Phil from France

The trip is worth taking . Seeing whales in the wild is exhilerating. Perhaps the brochure with closeups of jumping whales is misleading. Should portray what is to be expected, a few whales at a distance of a few hundred feet.

I loved the knowledge of the crew and the general concern they had for their passengers. I loved seeing the whales and the other sea creatures.

I have been on previous launches from the bay area and this was one of the very best. Friendly and informed crew. I would recommend to others.

We enjoyed our 2 1/2 hours trip to see some whales in Monterey Bay. The naturalist on board provided us with a lot of information on the whales. The captain that day was able to find about 5 humpback whales and later about 4 blue whales which for August is pretty good. Also saw sea lions, harbor seals ans some dolphins, a good trip.

Enjoyed the commentary. She was passionate about her work. Could not see the whales very well, the captain did not get close. In all, my family enjoyed it

I've always wanted to go whale watching and on a recent cruise to Alaska, I was disappointed that I always seemed to miss sightings of the humpbacks. Being from the Bay Area, Monterey was close enough to provide opportunities for whale watching and it just so happens that we were able to visit during the beginning of the gray whale migration! I was surprised at how many we saw- according to our on-board expert, there were as many as 30! The 2.5 hour tour was narrated by our on-board naturalist/expert who was perky and full of energy. Her enthusiasm was contagious and although she sees gray whales often, you can easily tell that she is in awe every single time! She shared a lot of interesting information and was open to questions by passengers as well. Once we entered the "Gray Whale Highway," sightings were more than what I expected! We were at a good distance for viewing...although I wouldn't have minded getting a wee bit closer! Because we are out in Monterey Bay, it is highly recommended to dress warmly and in layers. If you are prone to motion sickness, make sure you take something (i.e., Dramamine or motion sickness patch) because the ride does get quite bumpy! What I really appreciated about the tour was that we were given plenty of time to just enjoy the whales. The boat would be at a standstill until the whales moved on from our view. For those who do not have the expensive camera gear for up close shots, I recommend taking video. I took a few with my digital camera, but the movement of the whales is too quick to capture. The footage I took is awesome and I'm glad that I am able to watch it over and over! We were fortunately treated to a small group of risso dolphins! There was a call on the radio of a humpback whale sighting in the area, but as soon as we headed to that location, we just missed it. Also, we were on the lookout for orcas, but on that day, there were none to see. I would recommend taking a tour from Princess Monterey Whale Watching tour! It was definitely the highlight of my visit to the Carmel/Monterey area! (**Buying tickets online was easy and also highly recommended!)

A lot more fun than I expected! The woman who narrated the trip was very fun and knowledgeable. Make sure you take some motion sickness pills beforehand since the trip out there can be bouncy. But was a great experience and would love to go again!

Good value for money. 2.5 hr boat ride. Saw several whales, though they were quite far away. Guide was fantastic and had lots of energy. It gets cold so take a wind breaker and some sweaters.

Good experience

My husband and I went whale watching to celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary and had a great time. Our guide was informative and entertaining. We were able to see 4 humpback whales, maybe 50 dolphins, and a sun fish. Recommended!

Loved it!

Especially when the waters are choppy there is no initial intimation around it. We were able to see only a few sightings on the trp; that too just a glimpse. So not really worth the money; especially foe folks with motion sickness.